IAN THOMAS NAMED TO BRAVES OPENING DAY ROSTER

ATLANTA – Each spring training a team finds the diamond in the rough prospect and the player makes the opening day roster. This year a former Ram can make that claim.

Today, Ian Thomas was named to the opening day roster for the Atlanta Braves.

The honor comes on the heels of impressive spring training for the southpaw. Thomas made 11 appearances for the Braves, going 1-0 with a 2.61 ERA. In his 11 outings Thomas held the opposition hitless five times.

Thomas' road to the Major Leagues has been a wild one. After completing his final season as a Ram in 2009, the Virginia Beach, Va. native went undrafted.

That summer Thomas begain his professional career for Winnipeg Goldeyes of the Independent Northern League. The lefty spent his next three seasons in Winnipeg going 11-5 along the way.

After spending a brief time with the Independent York Revolution of the Atlantic League in 2012, Thomas signed a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves organization.

Thomas spent 2012 and 2013 in A Rome and AA respectively before earning an invite to big league camp this spring.

Over his past two seasons in the minors Thomas went 12-8, with six saves and a 2.88 ERA.

The Braves open their season on Monday in Milwauke when they take on the Brewers for a three game set. Thomas and the club then come to Washington, D.C. for a weekend series with the Nationals.